Sociando-Mallet Haut-Médoc 2020 375ml

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Every bit as good as the 2019, although in a slightly more concentrated, burly style, the 2020 Château Sociando-Mallet is close to an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a splash of Cabernet Franc, all from vines located just north of Saint-Estèphe. It brings lots of ripeness and richness, with darker currants, plums, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and graphite-like aromatics that build nicely with time in the glass. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Haut-Médoc revealing a deep, layered mid-palate, ripe, sweet tannins, plenty of concentration, and a great finish. Where the 2019 is silky and elegant, this is more in your face and foursquare, and it's mostly potential at this stage, although it clearly offers pleasure even today with its wealth of fruit. It's going to hit maturity around a decade after the vintage and, I suspect, will keep for 2-3 decades. Drink: 2030-2050. (10/24/23)"

94 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc). Another brilliant vintage, packed with griotte cherry, cassis sandalwood, cedar, rosemary, cumin, mint leaf, smoked earth and crayon. Great quality, wonderfully expressed brambled dark fruits, firm tannins that are expertly cradling the fruit, and a mouthwatering finish. More proof of the value offered by Sociando without sacrificing Left bank signature. 90% new oak for ageing, 42hl/h yield. Alcohol 14.5%. Drink: 2026-2044. (6/18/24)"

94 points James Suckling: "This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026. (12/15/22)"

92-94 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Deeply colored, with a nose offering flowers, touches of chocolate, wet earth, herbs and dark red spicy fruits. The wine is full-bodied, with a generous splash of black fruits, savory herbs and cocoa. Long and full in the mouth, this will age and develop for at least 3 decades with little effort. (5/20/21)"

92-94 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Aromas of blueberry and wild cherry with floral tones. Firmly built, fine-grained tannins, fresh and taut, richly structured fruit, without green tones, well-integrated acidity, profound mineral aspect, moderate finish. Polished and compact, classic Sociando. (5/28/21)"

92+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2020 Sociando-Mallet is very attractive, exhibiting aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with lively acids and powdery tannins, it's a strong effort from a site that always does well in warm vintages. The 2020 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink: 2025-2050. (4/6/23)"